MASSACHUSETTS HEADS TO THE POLLS: The race to fill John Kerry’s Senate seat in Massachusetts ends today as voters go to the polls to choose between Democratic Rep. Ed Markey and GOP candidate Gabriel Gomez. Markey, who has led in the polls throughout the general election, is expected to win what will likely be a very low-turnout affair.

BOSTON GLOBE ON THE FINAL DAY OF THE CAMPAIGN: “Republican Senate nominee Gabriel E. Gomez rolled from the Western part of the state toward the east today, trying to motivate his supporters to vote on Tuesday, despite polls showing him lagging behind US Representative Edward J. Markey. ... Meanwhile, Markey encouraged enthusiastic supporters at a campaign office in Lynn and at a restaurant function hall in Lowell to make a big final campaign push. Surrounded by Democratic elected officials, he exhorted supporters to make a strong get-out-the-vote effort between now and when the polls close on Tuesday in a what is expected to be a low-turnout special election.” http://bo.st/179SzJE

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LATEST POLLING IN THE RACE: The latest polling shows Ed Markey with a 10- to 20-point lead over Gabriel Gomez. A Suffolk University poll released Monday showed Markey leading Gomez 52-42 ( http://politi.co/135cqLO); Emerson College, released Friday, 51-41 ( http://bit.ly/11Ffnwp); New England College, released Friday, 56-36 ( http://bit.ly/1c3PN93).

If Gomez loses, it won’t be the end of his political career: “I shall return,” the pol said on “Fox News Sunday.” http://bit.ly/15AaExd

ALSO THIS MORNING—SCOTUS WATCH: All eyes this morning will be on the Supreme Court, where justices have yet to rule on several high-profile cases. More decisions are expected this week, resuming this morning at 10 a.m. ET. Still outstanding: Cases on the Voting Rights Act, the Defense of Marriage Act and California’s gay-marriage ban, Proposition 8.

BREAKING TODAY—SUPER PAC BOOSTS MCCONNELL IN NEW AD: Alex Burns gets an early look at the new ad from a pro-Mitch McConnell super PAC going after Democratic prospect Alison Lundergan Grimes: “The group, Kentuckians for Strong Leadership, charges in its commercials that Grimes would be a senator 'who will jam through Obama’s agenda: massive spending, Obamacare, the war on coal.' A source shared the video and script early with POLITICO. The ads, which will run in the Lexington, Louisville and Paducah markets, highlight reports that Grimes has had what the script calls 'secret meetings' with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) – 'because she’s Obama’s cheerleader in Kentucky.' POLITICO reported Friday that Kentuckians for Strong Leadership was reserving $260,000 in airtime for the race. The anti-Grimes commercials will run in the Lexington, Louisville and Paducah markets.” http://politi.co/120zTaA

The McConnell campaign is also out with a light-hearted video this morning poking fun at Grimes’s indecision about the race: http://bit.ly/132mLXF

SNEAK PEEK—NRSC HITS ON CLIMATE: On the day of President Obama’s big climate speech, the National Republican Senatorial Committee is hitting Democratic candidates and would-be candidates in 11 states. In a release set for later this morning, NRSC press secretary Brook Hougesen will say these candidates and officials “fought to help President Obama and now is responsible for a radical agenda that threatens families, workers, and entire industries” in their states. The release will hit Alaska Sen. Mark Begich, Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor, North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan, Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, Michigan Rep. Gary Peters, Iowa Rep. Bruce Braley, former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, Georgia businesswoman Michelle Nunn, South Dakota candidate Rick Weiland and all Democratic Senate prospects in West Virginia. See the release: http://bit.ly/15ArVGz. Obama’s speech today opens up a big question about how the policies he advocates will play in 2014, a topic James Hohmann looked at last night: http://politi.co/14U1rCM

FIRST IN SCORE—HOUSE MAJORITY PAC VIDEO BLASTS GOP ‘REBRAND’: A new video out from the pro-Democratic group House Majority PAC looks at the GOP’s rebranding plans—and contrasts them with some of its members’ recent controversial comments on immigration and women’s issues. “Three months ago after big electoral losses, Republicans announced a major rebranding effort,” the video says. “How are they doing? Let’s take a look.” The video then quotes from coverage of an Illinois GOP official’s “street walker” comments, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and Georgia Rep. Phil Gingrey talking about women’s roles outside the home, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann speaking about immigration reform, and Alaska Rep. Don Young’s “wetbacks” comment, to name a few. Watch: http://bit.ly/132r5q6

EXCLUSIVE—CITIZENS UNITED ENDORSES HILLYER, BARR: The conservative group Citizens United Political Victory Fund is giving its backing to two House candidates: conservative columnist Quin Hillyer in Alabama’s 1 st district special election and former Rep. Bob Barr in Georgia’s 11 th district. The group has given a total of $15,000 to each candidate: $5,000 for their respective GOP primaries, $5,000 for the run-off elections if necessary and $5,000 for the general election. Both men are facing crowded GOP primaries.

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD—

1) What will Markey’s margin be in Massachusetts?

2) Which Supreme Court decisions will be handed down later this morning?

3) How do red-state Dems react to Obama’s climate speech?

4) Do any incumbent governors announce they’re not running for reelection?

5) Will Lisa Madigan give any hints about her gubernatorial intentions at the EMILY’s List event in Chicago on Thursday? http://bit.ly/14U0bQ9

VIRGINIA GOVERNOR PREVIEW—MCAULIFFE VIDEO TOUTS GOP ENDORSEMENTS: Democrat Terry McAuliffe’s campaign is out with a web video this morning saying moderate Republicans are “running away” from GOP candidate Ken Cuccinelli because he’s too extreme. “Mainstream Republicans are running away from Ken Cuccinelli’s extreme rhetoric,” the video says. “But don’t take our word for it … take theirs.” The video quotes cable appearances from people like “Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough, former RNC chairman Michael Steele and Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, then shows news coverage of all the Republicans who have endorsed McAuliffe thus far. The video is the latest iteration in the campaign’s push to show Cuccinelli as too far right for comfort, while billing McAuliffe as the bipartisan choice in the race. Watch: http://bit.ly/179RnFV

MORE FROM VIRGINIA—CUCCINELLI HITS ON CLIMATE: Ahead of Obama’s climate speech today, the Cuccinelli campaign is highlighting Terry McAuliffe’s views on energy and climate issues and tying him to Obama in the process. In a release set for later this morning, the campaign will hit McAuliffe for his shifting positions on issues like coal plants and offshore drilling in the state. They also note that he supported then-Gov. Tim Kaine’s cap and trade program, an issue Obama is likely to tout in his speech. “With Congress unwilling to bow to Obama’s ideologically driven anti-jobs agenda, and McAuliffe’s clear past support for Obama’s objective, it’s only natural to deduce that McAuliffe should support the President’s executive over-reach,” Cuccinelli spokeswoman Anna Nix says in the release.

NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR—BUONO DAUGHTER ATTACKS ON GAY MARRIAGE: New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate Barbara Buono’s daughter blasted her opponent, Gov. Chris Christie on gay marriage on Monday, bringing social issues into the campaign in a big way. "As governor, he has been a giant roadblock to New Jersey achieving equality for all," wrote Tessa Bitterman, who is gay, in an email to Buono’s supporters. Hitting Christie on social issues could be an effective way to bring down his support among Democrats: in a blue state like New Jersey, where Democrats have a big registration advantage, Christie will need to hold onto his across-the-aisle appeal. And marriage is a new line of attack for Buono, who’s mostly focused her campaign’s attention thus far on Christie’s track record in the state. http://bit.ly/17yBHQf

2014 NEWS—

CANDIDATE TICKER—WHO’S IN AND WHO’S OUT? Here are some highlights of who announced they’re running in some of the key ’14 races around the country (and who announced they’re not):

OUT: Former Democratic Rep. Barney Frank, who said he wouldn’t run for governor of Massachusetts next year; former GOP Rep. Ben Quayle, who’s joining a law firm and won’t run for his old seat in Congress. http://huff.to/14TYlig, http://bit.ly/14TYNgo

SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR—COULD HALEY BOW OUT? South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley raised some doubt this weekend about whether she’ll run for reelection. In an interview with the Florence Morning News, Haley said the demands of her family—her husband is deployed in Afghanistan—could dissuade her from running. “If we look and it’s too much on the family, I could absolutely see (not running again),” she said. National Democrats think Haley is vulnerable and have put her on their 2014 target list. Haley’s advisers had indicated earlier this year that she’s planning to run, so it’s unclear whether these comments represent a change of heart or how serious they are. Either way, Haley’s actions and public statements are definitely something to keep an eye on in the coming weeks. http://bit.ly/15Apbc2

GEORGIA SENATE—STATE PARTY OPTS AGAINST NOMINATING CONVENTIONS: In Georgia, the state GOP voted against exploring party nominating conventions to choose its future nominees. Party nominating conventions, used in a handful of states (including Virginia, where the convention produced lieutenant governor nominee E.W. Jackson this year), have generally resulted in more conservative GOP candidates. In the state’s upcoming Senate race, a nominating convention would likely favor one of the more conservative candidates like Reps. Paul Broun or Phil Gingrey—both pols that national Democrats would love to face off against in the general election. Since they’re sticking with a primary, the GOP’s field in that remains as open and crowded as it was before. http://bit.ly/15AbLgm

HAWAII SENATE—INOUYE WIDOW SENDS HANABUSA FUNDRAISING PLEA: Irene Hirano Inouye, widow of the late Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye, is going to bat for Rep. Colleen Hanabusa in the state’s Democratic Senate primary. In an email to supporters Monday, Inouye said supporting Hanabusa—whom her husband wanted to replace him in the Senate; the appointment went instead to now-Sen. Brian Schatz—would help honor his memory. “I'm honoring Dan's last wish and putting my full support behind Colleen Hanabusa. I'm asking you to do the same and contribute to her campaign right now,” Inouye wrote. “I have full confidence that Colleen will serve Hawai'i in the way the people deserve -- with honorable leadership and continued respect. This is not the time for on-the-job-training.” Inouye is one of Hanabusa’s most high-profile endorsements thus far; Schatz has racked up endorsements both before and after she entered the race, including one from the state’s biggest labor union last week. But in a state where there’s been little turnover among statewide politicians, the Inouye name carries a lot of weight—a fact that will be a boon to Hanabusa’s campaign against an incumbent senator. http://bit.ly/14U3rej

TEXAS GOVERNOR—WHAT'S NEXT FOR RICK PERRY? The Republican recently said he would decide by July 1—that's Monday—whether or not to run for reelection as governor of Texas, according to Bloomberg News ( http://bloom.bg/120cfhH). Some in Austin say they see signs that he will not run for a fourth term in 2014. That could clear the way for Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott, who The Texas Tribune says is "widely believed to be running.” Abbott released a glossy biographical video on Monday ( http://bit.ly/18aY1ir). And The Dallas Morning News’s Wayne Slater thinks the governor’s business-poaching trips to other states mean that “the Rick Perry national rehabilitation tour has begun” in anticipation of another possible White House run ( http://bit.ly/15yNlUh). Texas has a deep bench of GOP pols, many of whom are waiting their turn for higher statewide office—if Perry were to step aside, it would give some of those pols a chance to run this time around.

IOWA SENATE—GRASSLEY IN THE MIDDLE: Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley says he’s not going to back one candidate to fill his state’s open Senate seat, and instead is willing to help out any GOPer in the race—a decision that’s making him pretty busy with fundraising in the coming days and weeks. Despite Grassley’s ties to candidate David Young, one of his former top aides, Grassley has also agreed to hold a fundraiser for former U.S. attorney Matt Whitaker’s campaign. Whitaker said in a statement that he was “glad” Grassley was “lending his name” to the fundraising event. Though it’s not uncommon for incumbent senators to stay out of primary battles in their state, this could become a tough line for Grassley to walk; it could get tougher if state Sen. Joni Ernst also enters the race, as she’s expected to do. http://bit.ly/14U3MgY

MAINE GOVERNOR—LEPAGE FOR CONGRESS? File this under Scott-Brown-in-New-Hampshire level surprises: Maine GOP Gov. Paul LePage said Friday that he’s thinking about running for Congress. The Portland Press Herald: ‘'I'm considering running for Mike Michaud's seat, if you want to know the truth, because it can't be any worse in Washington than it is here,' LePage said Friday. 'Everything's on the table. Retirement, Social Security, running for Congress, maybe going back to Marden's to stock shelves. Who knows? I don't take myself as seriously as all you do.' Brent Littlefield, LePage's political adviser, said Wednesday that he was '1,000 percent unaware' of the governor's interest in the 2nd Congressional District seat.” LePage’s approval ratings aren’t great, and he’s expected to have a tough reelection battle—though how tough it is depends in part on whether independent candidate Eliot Cutler runs and makes it a three-way race. http://bit.ly/14TZvu7

2016 WATCH—

BOLTON 2016? National Review’s Robert Costa scoops that former U.N. ambassador John Bolton—once thought to be a possible 2012 candidate—is planning an early-state swing to test the waters for 2016: “Bolton, who briefly considered running for president in 2012, hasn’t made up his mind. But sources tell me that he is moving closer to giving the idea serious consideration — serious enough to travel to Iowa, New Hampshire, and elsewhere. Later this year and throughout 2014, the former Reagan and Bush official will begin an informal national tour. He’ll give speeches, huddle with GOP leaders, and push back against the party’s libertarian shift. He’ll make the case for a muscular foreign policy.” http://bit.ly/14U1U7Z

ANOTHER HILLARY SUPER PAC: Ready for Hillary, the first big pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC, isn’t the only one out there anymore. The latest group is Hillary FTW (as in, “for the win”), founded by L.A. entertainment lawyer Hector Pacheco. Pacheco said the group’s purpose is to “get the media narrative of inevitability” around Clinton—in case it isn’t already there enough, that is. These two groups almost certainly won’t be the last between now and whenever Clinton makes her intentions known. http://wapo.st/14TWAla

LIGHTER CLICKS—

MITT ROMNEY is granting 2012-related interviews for two upcoming books on the election (including the new Game Change): http://politi.co/15zThwu

CODA – QUOTE OF THE DAY: "In response to red panda charges, I have an alibi, Callista and I were feeding our pet elephants all evening ( just a joke) help find panda." — Newt Gingrich on Twitter, after the National Zoo said Monday that a red panda named Rusty had gone missing. http://wapo.st/18b6RfY

Authors:

About The Author

Emily Schultheis is a national political reporter and author of POLITICO Pro’s daily Morning Score tipsheet. She joined POLITICO as a 2010 summer intern, then filed stories on the 2010 Pennsylvania Senate and gubernatorial races and the 2012 election throughout her senior year at the University of Pennsylvania. Since arriving full-time at POLITICO in summer 2011, Schultheis spent the 2012 cycle writing for the “Burns & Haberman” blog and traveling the country with different presidential candidates. She took over Morning Score in January 2013.

In summer 2013, Schultheis was one of ten American journalists selected for the Arthur F. Burns Fellowship, an international reporting program for young journalists. She spent two months covering the German election in Berlin for POLITICO and SPIEGEL International.

Schultheis began covering politics for The Daily Pennsylvanian, Penn’s student-run newspaper, in 2008, trailing Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton throughout Philadelphia during the lead-up to the Pennsylvania primary. Her work has also appeared in the Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia City Paper and UWIRE’s Youth Vote ‘08 blog. She graduated summa cum laude from Penn with a degree in English literature in May 2011.

Schultheis, originally from the San Francisco Bay area, now lives in Arlington.

About The Author

Elizabeth Titus is a reporter at POLITICO Pro.

She previously reported for The Texas Tribune and contributed to the coverage of Texas that it provides to The New York Times. She also previously reported for The Center for Investigative Reporting's California Watch and the Sacramento Valley Mirror in Willows, Calif.

Titus is a graduate of Stanford, where she was editor-in-chief of The Stanford Daily. She got her start in journalism at The Ferndale Enterprise, a weekly newspaper her family publishes in northern California.